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“He was still speaking when, behold,
a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and a voice from the cloud said,
‘This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased …'”
Matthew 17:5

The Bible records three more words in that verse. Do you know what they are?***

The context of this passage is known as the Transfiguration when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. And then suddenly Moses and Elijah were also there.

My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased are the same words spoken at Jesus’s baptism by John.   Mark 1:9-11.

I often pose that question *** at the retreats where I speak. Do you know what the next words are?

How might you finish the sentence? This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased ___________________.

Worship him?   Serve him?   Follow him?   Honor him?   Obey him?

None of those really good things are what the Spirit of God highlights.

The very next words are listen to him!

Listening, the most important thing God highlights for those men and I believe for us. These men had been walking with Jesus. They knew him as a friend. And the Spirit of God reminds them to listen!

“Listening to God calling us his beloved is like
discovering a well in the desert.
Once you have touched wet ground,
you want to dig deeper.”
Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Life of the Beloved

“Nothing can replace meeting with
(listening to) Jesus.
Not even reading your Bible.”
Brother Lawrence

The BIG question: How do I develop the habit of listening?

For example, years ago … yes, years ago I memorized Romans 4:20 and 21.

“No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God,
but he grew strong in his faith
as he gave glory to God,
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
(bolding and underline mine)

Perhaps I really listened for the first time recently. Those little two letters that I bolded and underlined stopped my reading. AS. Small word; BIG impact. Sue, listen!

Abraham (who these words are referring to) grew his faith AS he gave glory to God.

It’s led me on a search. I want to grow strong in my faith too! So what does it look like for me to give glory to God?

I have some thoughts, but I’d love to learn from you.
What does it mean to give glory to God?

Put your thoughts in the comments. Let’s help each other.

Next Thursday — Some principles I’m learning that are helping me to listen well.

Copyright: Sue Tell, February 2023